Vent means for bottles and jugs



Feb. 2, 1965 A. J. PARKER VENT MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND JUGS Filed July 3,1963 mm M vam

m A v m M n United States Patent 3,168,221 VENT MEANS FOR BOTTLES ANDJUGS Allen J. Parker, 113 Urquhart St., Lake Worth, Fla. Filed July 3,1963, Ser. No. 292,537 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-109) This invention relates toa vented pouring spout for plastic or glass receptacles and whereby tovent the receptacles to permit of a free flowing action of liquidcontents from the receptacle and to avoid gurgling or splashing of thecontents as presently observed.

The invention comprises a preferably plastic plug having a frictionalfitment into the neck portion of the bottle and with the plug having arelatively larger discharge opening and a smaller opening into which isfitted an elongated vent tube that extends downwardly into the bottleand whereby to prevent the accumulation of a vacuum in the bottle duringthe pouring operation.

The invention further embodies a plug having a flange area that limitsthe fitment of the plug into the bottle and with the flange having anintegral cap and an integral hinge that overlies the pouring spout in aclosed position to prevent the accumulation of sediment or other foreignmatter over the pouring opening and with the plug and the cap beingmolded integrally.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be moreclearly apparent during the course of the following description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has beenillustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like charactersof reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the severalfigures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the bottle andshowing the invention applied thereto,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view with the cap removed at thepoint of hinge connection, and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the plug.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated abottle 13 having a relatively large neck portion 14. Adapted to befitted within the neck portion 14 is a molded plastic plug 15, having anupper marginal flange 16. The flange 16 is adapted to rest upon theupper marginal edge of the neck 14 to thereby limit the movement of theplug into the neck portion of the bottle. The side walls of the plug 15are grooved at 17 to exert a frictional contact with the inner sidewalls of the neck 14 and to prevent displacement of the plug. The plug15 is provided with a relatively large opening 18 therethrough throughwhich the contents of the bottle may be discharged. The opening 18 isprovided upon the top of the plug with a surrounding flange 19 forming arecess 20 and with the flange 19 and the opening 18 constituting apouring spout and whereby any excess fluid upon the spout will drainbackwardly into the recess when the bottle is placed in an uprightposition. Also formed in the plug 15 parallel to the opening 18 is arelatively smaller aperture 21 that is adapted to receive the upper endof a vent tube 22. The upper end of the aperture 21 is provided with ashoulder 23 that limits the movement of the tube 22 into the aperture21. The tube 22 is normally curved in manufacture and when assembledwith the plug 15 is inserted in the bottle, it will curve outwardly anddownwardly toward one side of the botdo 13.

3,168,221 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 ice Means are provided to hingedlyconnect a cap 24 to the plug at one side comprising a plastic hinge 25and whereby the cap 24 may be swung laterally to expose the pouringopening 18. The plug and the cap are adapted to be molded integral froma suitable plastic and the side of the cap opposite the end hasfrictional engagement with a shoulder 26 whereby the cap is retained inits normal closed position.

In the use of this device, the plug 15 is forced into the neck openingof the bottle, having frictional engagement through the medium of thegrooves 17 and limited in its downward movement by the flange 16. Priorto the engagement of the plug 15 into the neck opening of the bottle,the tube 22 is forced upwardly through the aperture 21 against theshoulder 23. The tube 22 will normally assume a curved position towardthe adjacent side wall of the bottle and with the cap swung upwardly asindicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the contents of the bottle may bepoured in an uninterrupted stream from the spout formed by the flange 19and with air following the displaced liquid through the tube 22relieving any tendency for a vacuum to form in the bottle during thepouring action. Any fluid that may be trapped in a recess 20 willreadily flow back to the bottle through the tube 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel closure meanshas been provided for liquid containing receptacles. In each instance, avent has been provided to relieve the forming of a vacuum that normallycauses gurgling or splashing at the discharge end. The cap 24 isshiftbale upon the hinge 25 to and from a covering position with respectto the pouring spout and also the air tube 22.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fallwithin the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scopeof the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A vented closure for bottles or jars and with the bottles or jars havinga reduced neck extension, a molded plug adapted to have frictionalfitting engagement into the neck of the bottle, the plug beingcylindrical and circumferentially grooved whereby to have grippingengagement with the inner wall of the neck, the plug being yieldable sothat the grooves create a suction engagement with the inner wall of theneck, the plug having an enlarged circumferential flange that is adaptedto seat upon the upper end of the neck and to limit the movement of theplug into the bottle, a second flange extending above the first flangeand eccentric thereto and with the second flange being inclineddownwardly to form a drainage recess, the plug having a relatively largebore extending vertically therethrough and, communicating with therecess, a second relatively small bore that is parallel with the firstbore and closely adjacent thereto and with the second bore opening intothe recess at the bottom of the recess, the second bore being reduced atits upper end to form a stop shoulder, a vent tube engageable into thesecond bore to a point that contacts the shoulder and to limit themovement of the tube therein, the tube projecting below the plug andcurved intermediate its length to lie against an inner side wall of thebottle, a closure cap that is hingedly connected to the flange at apoint slightly outwardly of the first named flange, the cap beingcupshaped and means formed upon the first named flange opposite to thehinge for frictionally holding the cap in a closed position, the plugand the cap being integrally molded from plastic, the first namedrboreconstituting a pouring spout for contents of the bottle, the tubeconstituting an air vent for the bottle and with the recess adapted toreceive any fluid that is disposed upon the spout after the bottle hasbeen placed in an upright position and whereby to drain the excess fluidback to the bottle through the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ShawMar. 16, 1943 Livadas Mar. 27, 1951 Meshberg Mar. 18, 1952 Sidenius Nov.20, 1956 Kuzma June 18, 1957 Beall Nov. 5, 1957 Beall Dec. 1, 1959

